For 50 Years The Post Has Been The Best-Read Newspaper In Its Field. Now, With Its New Make- up, It Is More Readable, More In- teresting Than Ever. Vol. 49 E DALLAS F 3 ’ {More Than A Newspaper, A Community Institution THE DALLAS POST, FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1939 POS Mr. Advertiser: If You Are Not Advertising In The Post You Are Missing An Opportunity To Build Sales For Today And Tomorrow In A Growing Community. No. 16 POST SCRIPTS A NEW LINDBERGH COMES HOME Judging from the meagre publicity which has greeted his return to the United States, the press, which he dis- likes so intensely, is taking Col. Charles Augustus Lindbergh at his word. We “hope the captious Colonel enjoys his hard-won privacy. ; What the future holds for the world’s foremost aviator we can only guess. The biggest news since he ventured back on his native soil has been his decision to help the United States pre- pare for the approaching war, a course which his late father, a leading pacifist in another war-like era, might ques- tion. This new, 'fretful, suspicious, rude Lindbergh who has come back to us is a strange person. Fame has treated him shabbily and perhaps it placed upon his shoulders a burden greater than he could carry. We can scarcely believe that the irritable, embittered, unpopular exile who came home this week is the same slim young man we interviewed in a railroad Y. M. C. A. one rainy midnight about 10 years ago. If he will permit us, we much prefer to remember him as he was then, not as he became after glory back-fired on him. _ We almost didn’t meet the Colonel. He was flying to New York and became lost in a fog. He landed in a meadow beside Coxton Yards, and in gliding down across the Susquehanna he nar- rowly missed a string of telephone wires. That night we had a long list of assignments and so we weren’t in the contingent of reporters which went out on the story. Lindbergh was then America’s Pub- lic Hero No. 1 and we recall how ex- cited every one was because chance had brought him so near. Everybody had little stories to tell about him. We heard how Lindbergh had just ridden in the cab of a locomotive over the mountain’ cut-off - and been given an ovation by a crowd which gathered to greet him in Wilkes-Barre. Someone told us he had declined an invitation to ‘spend the night in an aristocratic home, preferring to sleep in a modest bedroom at the Coxton Y. M."C. A. Everything he did made another story and the incidents passed from. person to person, becoming a part of the Lindbergh saga. It was late when we went in and most of the Lindbergh story was already in type but the Managing Editor had queries from out-of-town newspapers which wanted coverage. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant assignment now, because there was a fine drizzle falling and it meant spending most of the night waiting for Lindbergh’s take-off but those things didn’t matter when it was suggested that we might be will- ing to file the stories for the out-of- town papers next morning. We went up to Coxton. ee We reached the weather-beaten, smoke-stained Y. M. C. A. just as Lind- bergh consented to meet the news- papermen for the second time that evening. There had been an earlier interview and he shook hands pleasant- ly with those of us who had arrived late. There was a good bit of banter and he seemed to enjoy parrying ques- tions with the reporters. His high- pitched, thin voice surprised us, we remember. Otherwise, he was pretty much as we'd expected, his tow hair ruffled carelessly, his neat, grey suit hanging limply from his lanky frame, like a sail on a windless sea. When! he grinned, his smile took up all his face and his eyes laughed, too. You | liked him immediately. All of us chatted for a while and he talked about aviation, shrewdly chang- ing the subject when someone touched ! on his personal affairs, and then he! said good night to us and retired to a narrow bedroom which had a cot, a dresser and a chair as its only furni- | ture. No one else thought of sleep- | ing. We had a lunch, and then we walked down along the river to the spot where the Colonel’s plane was being guarded by two State policemen. Although it had been announced that he would take off at 7 a. m., Lindbergh had told us he intended to leave at 5, before the crowd grew big enough to be troublesome. Just before the sun melted the light mist which floated above the river, he came to his plane. He ran his hands along its silvery sides! and his eyes searched carefully for any imperfection. Oblivious to the gath- ering crowd, he brought out his tools, and began tinkering earnestly. When he had finished, he posed for pictures. He had slept only a few hours but he seemed in good spirits, although he was obviously annoyed when a notor- ious rum-runner pushed through the crowd, stuck out a ham-like paw and shouted “How are you, Mr. Linden- berg 7°” (Continued on Page 8) AR FAMOUS ACTRESS AND A GREAT ARTIST Lovely Joan Crawford poses for Leslie Benson, noted portrait painter, during her recent sojourn in New York. Mr. Benson, who is famous for his paintings of glamorous stars from the movie colony, is shown here makin preliminary sketches. Martin Murder Provokes Legislation Aimed At County's 23,000 Abnormals Tragedy Echoed In State Capitol As Lawmakers Study Bills To Curb Menace Of Sex Criminals The tragedy of Margaret Martin's unsolved murder echoed through the corridors of the State capitol building at Harrisburg this week as legislators began studying a tri-partite bill which is a direct result of the shocking evi- dence of widespread sexual perversion uncovered here in the last few months. Sponsored by Senator Leo C. Mundy, after police and physicians had appealed for greater protection against the grim menace of the sex criminal, the bill would effect about 23,000 abnormal persons in Luzerne County alone, according to one man who was irstrrmental in drafting the legislation. = The proposed bills would compel re- sponsible persons to report regularly on the treatment and progress of abnormal persons in their care, would provide punishment for solicitation and moles- tation and would enable the State to compile a list’ of known perverts as a matter of confidential record. Ad- vocates of the legislation have high hopes of its prompt passage. Unknown to most people are the con- ditions which came to light as a result of the painstaking investigation by police as they sought the trail of Margaret Martin’s killer. More than 2,000 cases of perversion alone were uncovered and there are in police files in Northeastern Pennsylvania about 200 unsolved cases of girls, who have disappeared in ‘the last 10 years. Many of the disappearances are laid at the door of the white slave ring which operates between Forest City and Shenandoah. While Senator Mundy seeks to pre- vent future sex crimes, State police and county detectives continue their hopeful search for the slayer of Mar- garet Martin, pretty Kingston Sunday school teacher who was lured to her death last December 17. Although public interest had declined, the inves- tigation plods steadily on. Faced with the staggering volume of suggestions and tips from all over the country and cautious because of the damage al- ready done by an excitable public which has seemed too quick to believe | rumors, police have been compelled to work very slowly. Tight-lipped, they say they have never given up hope of solving the crime. Back Broken When Thrown Off Horse Robert Westover, Fzrmer Resident, Badly Hurt Robert Westover, 20, son of Mrs. Rachel Westover and a former resident of Dallas, suffered a broken back sev- eral days ago when he was thrown from a horse near Waverly, N.Y. The Westover fami, nic was widely known here, mo to Syracuse about two years ago. Robert lived with his mother but was visiting friends in Waverly when the accident occurred. He was taken to St. Joseph's hospital, Elmira, suffering from a broken back and head injuries. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kotchi of Kingston, close friends of the West- overs, intend to visit the injured youth this week-end and more details about the accident are expected upon their return, They received word this week that the youth’s condition is as good as could be expected. > STATE TO PAVE ANOTHER LINK ON ROUTE 92 THIS YEAR, MOTOR CLUB SAYS One more concrete link will be paved on Route 92, between Dallas and Tunkhannock, yet this year, according to Norman Johnstone, secretary of Wynming Valley Me: \ tor Club. : ir The State Highway Departationt plans to extend the conefete as far as Lutes’ Corners, Mr. John- stone has been assured. Two con- tracts filled in recent years paved the highway from Tunkhannock to Evans Falls, where the new stretch will begin. The next link will be about 3 miles in length and work is expect- ed to begin in August. To Dedicate Church Sunday Afternoon Evans Falls Methodists Complete New Structure years, the Evans Falls Methodist Episcopal Church will be dedicated on Sunday afternoon at 3, with ‘Rev. George M. Bell, D. D., superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre District, delive, ing | the dedicatory address. seLH Completion of the church has been delayed repeatedly by the difficulty in raising money. Most of the work has been performed by men of the com- munity, who have contributed their services. For some time worship has been held in the basement of the par- tially completed structure. Rev. Thomas F. Kline, who has five churches in his Centermoreland circuit, is pastor of the new church. Among the visiting clergymen, some of them former pastors, will be Rev. Leonard Davis, Rev. James Burleigh, Rev. Fran- cis Freeman, Rev. Roy Bean and Rev. Guy Leinthall. Trustees of the new church are Lewis Doll, Harry Doll, and Mrs. Corey M: rer. AUXILIARY CARD PART The Nesbitt Memorial Hospital ux- iliary will sponsor a card party a St. Therese’s Church, Shavertown, Wed- nesday afternoon at 2. Table prizes and a door prize will be given. Under construction for the last five Farmers Forming Local Unions Here To Support Protest Ready To Carry Battle Rgainst New Milk Rates To Capital Next Week Farmers who are organizing throughout this section to protest the schedule of prices established recently by the Pennsylvania Milk Control Board are preparing to carry their battle to Harrisburg next week when a joint Senate-House committee will investigate milk regulations. C. W. Space of Dallas, who was elect- ed a director of the Milk Producers’ Association of Northeastern Pennsyl- vania last Tuesday, and Howard Lans- | berry of Idetown, who is chairman of {the drive to organize Luzerne County { farmers, probably will be among the producers who will attend the inquiry. Within two weeks the Milk Produc- ers’ Association expects to have the majority of farmers in this section or- ganized into locals, . which will unite producers behind a militant protest against the prices fixed by the Milk Control Board. The farmers charge that the new schedule of prices is un- fair to the farmers and allows dealers too much profit. Opposition has come from dealers, the farmers say, in the form of threats to stop buying from farmers who join the new union. About 425 farmers, including a num- ber from the Dallas section, attended the organization meeting of the Milk Producers in Scranton on Tuesday. One of the developments at that meeting was the promise that under no circum- stances will the farmers go on strike. Directors were elected as follows: Two-year terms, Herbert Thomas and Edward Decker of Waverly, Ronald Ransom, Nicholson; C. W. Space, Dal- las; one-year terms, W. S. Spaulding, Hazleton; Claude Keller, Shickshinny; Ralph Naylor, Factoryville; Leonard Hartneck, Moscow; Morris Northrup, Dalton. Among the speakers were John York of North Abington, who warned farm- ers that unless their conditions are bettered young people will move away ii Um rural sections; Charles Skeel of the Dairymen’s League, Mr. Space, Mr. Lansberry, who reviewed the situation, and Clarence Dickinson, of the New "York bargaining agency for the New York milk shed and who declared that he has known cases where dealers made as much as 108 per cent profit on the lower classifications of milk. No Funds Now For Luzerne Highway . But Hughes Promises His ‘Serious Consideration” The probability that Main and Ben- nett Streets, Luzerne will be placed on a list of roads to be constructed early in 1940 with Federal Aid was discussed on Wednesday at a meeting of Luzerne Civic Association, Wyoming Valley Mo- tor Club and Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. After discussing the promise made by the State Highway D ment last year to pave the Luzerne thorough- fares, it was decided to invite I. La- mount Hughes, secretary of highways, to meet with the committees and with Luzerne Borough council to study the need for improving the two main routes through the borough. Questioned by The Post this week concerning any promise made to pave the roads, Mr. Hughes insisted that there is nothing in the files of his department to indicate that any prom- ise ‘was made to reconstruct the two streets. The promise, of' course, was made by a previous administration. Although Mr. Hughes claims that there are no funds at the disposal of the highway department now for pav- ing of Main and Bennett Streets, he told The Post that the department would be inclined to give ‘very serious consideration” to the improvements of the two streets when funds are avail- able if Luzerne Borough will give as- surance that the street car right-of- way will be reconstructed at no ex- pe se to the State. Even Old Man Grippe couldn’t lick Tommy Dropchinski, Lehman High School athlete and amateur boxer, when he went in the ring at 109th F. A. Armory, Kingston, on Tuesday night against hard-hitting Charles Lamoreaux of Wilkes-Barre. a month ago and trains in his father’s barn, was nursing a 100-degree fever and a chest cold. His opponent had ten pounds weight advantage, was taller and had a longer reach. Tommy, who started to fight about 100-DEGREE FEVER NEARLY LOSES FIGHT FOR TOMMY DROPCHINSKT In the first round Dropchinski’s bud- ding ring career came close to an pretty tough for a while. He was still pretty tought for a while. He was still a bit groggy as the second round began but he warmed up to his job then and took the second and third rounds for the decision. Earl Kinsman, former professional fighter, who has been interested in Tommy, handled the local boy. The bout was one scheduled by the C. Y. O. of Wilkes-Barre. TWO MAIN STREET STORES WILL EXCHANGE QUARTERS; ACME SUPER MARKET HERE The large storeroom/ on Main Street occupied by uf B. &-B. Hardware Co. will be le “by the American Stores next week and a new super market will be opened there about May 1. Arthur Brown will move his hardware store into the building which will be vacated by the American Store. He expects to begin moving Monday or Tuesday and the American Store will be- gin installing its new equipment immediately. May Finish School Bhead Of Schedule Spring Spurs Work On Lehman's $100,000 Plant Prospects for finishing the new Leh- man High School building ahead of schedule became brighter this week as the change in weather conditions per- ! mitted increased building activities. Warmer temperatures allowed work- men to begin the construction of the main wall of the structure and when the weather clears sufficiently, a ce- ment base for the first floor of the new school building will be laid. Four workers from the bricklayers’ local of Wilkes-Barre began to lay the wall tile on the recently completed concrete foundations Wednesday after- noon. Within two weeks eight more brick layers will be employed to lay a brick facing on the tile, according to James Cosgrove, business manager of the union. Forms for the four-inch cement floor base have been built and the base will be poured when the first clear weather comes. Aside from the ceiling of the furnace and plumbing rooms, the floor will be laid on a four-foot cinder fill. When the cement for the first floor is poured, 12 additional laborers will be employed from the Lehman area. To Expand Curriculum The increased facilities afforded by the new building will allow the addi- tion of three new subjects to the curric- ulum, commercial studies, 'domestic science and art. The plans also call for a large library and an adequate music studio. The new high school will have fifteen room units, as compared with seven in the old frame building. On the first floor will be a home economics labora- tory, a farm mechanics shop, an agriculture room, three other class rooms, a teacher’s rest room, a roomy office and conference room, and two | toilets. A science laboratory, a large commercial room, an art room and a music studio, a large library, two class- rooms and two toilets will make up the second floor of the building. Aver- age room size will be 22 by 30 feet. The $10,000 allocation sought by the school board after the bond issue had been sold has been remitted, bringing total funds on hand to $80,000. Two other appropriations of $10,000 each will be received from the PWA admin- | istration at Harrisburg before the struc- | ture is completed. From all indications, the new school will be ready for occupancy by Septem- ber 15, the beginning of the fall term. Rosen & Co., general contractors, com- pleted a similar building in Daleville, Lackawanna County, in less than scheduled time just before they con- tracted for the Lehman school. Charles Webb, superintendent of the Lehman project, is well satisfied with progress. School For Drivers Being Organized Students Can Register For Five-Week Course Classes for persons from the Dallas sec- tion are being organized by the Wyo- ming Valley Safety Driving School and registrations are to be made at the showroom in James Olivers’ garage, Main Street, on Monday night between 6:30 and 8:30. 3 The course will cover five weeks, in- cluding two and one-half weeks of classroom instruction and two and one-half weeks of road instruction. The school will supply the cars for road in- struction and a small fee will be charg- ed to pay for operation. There will be choice of three class periods: 10 a. m. to 12 noon, 1 p. m. to 3 p. m. and 6 p. m. to 8 p. m. Wyo- ming Valley Motor Club is co-operating in the conduct of the school. Lundy Warns Delinquents He Will File Liens Herbert A. Lundy, tax collector for Dallas Township, dssu€d a warning this week that he ‘must file liens against delinquent property taxpayers who have not paid by May 1. He urged that persons who have not paid their property taxes do so immediately to avoid the penalty and interest charges. Consumers Await Commission's View Of Water Shortage Public Ownership Study Delayed Pending Outcome Of Formal Complaint The committee which has been in- vestigating the possibility of solving Dallas’s water problem by building a municipal plant decided this week to postpone further investigation pend- ing the outcome of the hearing to be held before the Public Utility Com- mission at Wilkes-Barre next Thurs- day. Making it plain that their attitude does not mean that they have aban- doned their study of publicly-owned plants, the consumers explained that their decision was made to permit con- centration upon the formal complaints which have been filed with the Pub- lic Utility Commission and which will be aired at next week’s hearing. “We are concerned only with the need for securing adequate water ser- vice,” said Henry Disque, “and how we reach that goal is of secondary in- terest. If the company has a fair and reasonable solution, the consumers will hail it joyfully. If the hearings do not produce a solution, we shall still have time to chart our course.” The hearing to be held at the court house next Thursday morning is the outcome of complaints made last No- vember. An informal complaint was filed then by a group of sixty consum- ers. Several months later Dallas Bor- ough Council filed a formal complaint. Consumers who have suffered from frequent interruptions of water service are expected to be at the court house next Thursday. Craig Explains Problems Robert H. Craig of Harrisburg, gen- eral manager of Dallas Water Co., con- ferred with members of Dallas Borough Council last Friday night and explained the problems confronting the local util- ity, which has frankly admitted the in- adequacy of its service to consumers in the higher sections of town. Mr. Craig had no definite program ‘to present, but he discussed some of the improvements the company has considered Because of the scheduled hearing, he avoided going into too much detail about the course the util- ity will follow in defending itself before the Commission, but he volunteered considerable information. The conference, which lasted about one and one-half hours, was attended by Mr. Craig, Leslie Warhola, local manager of the company; William Da- vis, John Durbin, James Franklin and Morgan Wilcox, all councilmen, John T. Jeter, borough engineer, and Attorney Arthur Turner, borough solicitor. PTA To Honor Band And Athletes Next Thursday Members of Dallas Borough High School girls’ and boys’ athletic teams and the school band will be feted by the Parent-Teachers Association at a dinner next Thursday night at 6 in the high school. Speakers will be Steven Emanuel and Agnes Berry of Wilkes-Barre. Clyde Lapp will be toastmaster. The public is invited to attend. Res- ervations can be made by telephoning Mrs. Lewis LeGrand. The PTA will not solicit donations this year, as in the past, but will finance the dinner through the sale of tickets. Mrs. Leon Kintz will be general chairman and her co-chairmen will be Mrs. R. J. W. Templin and Mrs. Charles Stookey. Other committees: Kitchen, Mrs. Winifred Thomas, Mrs. Ralph Brown, Mrs. Laverne Race, Mrs. Edwin Nelson, Mrs. Clyde Veitch, Mrs. Howell, Mrs. Harley Misson, Mrs. Earl Monk, Mrs. Thomas Carkhuff; dining room and decorations, Mrs. Harvey McCarty, Mrs. Lillian Kuehn; tables, Mrs. Elwood McCarty, Mrs. Florence Phillips, Mrs. David Brace, Mrs. Arthur Franklin, Mrs. M. J. Brown, Mrs. Jack Hazletine. R. L. Hallock, music supervisor, and the band will have charge of the musi- cal program. Mrs. Louise Colwell will lead the singing. JOSEPH H. MacVEIGH WINS TWO PROMINENT POSTS IN CITY ON SAME AFTERNOON A Dallas man was elected presi- dent of one prominent “Wilkes- Barre organization, and director of another, all in one afternoon this week. Joseph H. MacVeigh of Center Hill Road, vice-president of the Pressed Steel Company, was nomi- nated president of the Wilkes- Barre Rotary Club at a luncheon Tuesday, and later that afternoon was made a director of the Wilkes- Barre Chamber of Commerce to fill one of nine vacancies on the board.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers